I had almost forgot about this thread until, I had made a purchase of 5 (lease) licenses to migrate people away from phpBB.

I've come to learn that phpBB still uses a whole lot of old PHP3 Code and MUCH of the code is the same tired old code its always had. Olympus or what ever the code name is this week has been more anticipated and longer in delay than any product I've ever seen.

For that very reason, I'd honestly have to say that vBulletin is not just better "here and there" as in one feature over the other, its VASTLY superior than the tired old dog phpBB. I like Dani started out with phpBB and then found vBulletin. Its a lot like having your first job at McDonalds, eventually you will want to quit fast food and do something else.

I'd strongly suggest anyone considering vBulletin to consider a Leased Licenses which ultimately are a better value than an owned license. An owned license will cost you twice as much money in the long run when you compare each license against updates and support. Its very likely that a person would upgrade or update a vBulletin installation at least one time in two years.

Besides vBulliten templating is a lot easier than phpBB.

~ Jared

No doubt vBulletin is far best then phpBB but lets not forget that phpBb is free and these guys take lots of pain all just for Free of cost.

Anyways coming to comparision,,,

Vbulletin is far more then costly. if i am not wrong many guys here want to get started, i perfer for getting started try out phpBb make some good userbase. Once you see you have good user base you can go ahead buy the Vbulletin or might be if you are very lucky phpbb comes will better version and comparable to vbulletin,


One Q for Dani,

I was seeing your forumn is very organised. If i am not wrong you have changed it to some extend and so it does not looks to be default Vbulletin. Correct??? or you have just used some of mods etc etc.

Like the Directory its good and unquie of this kind, iam not sure if it comes by default with vBulletin...


Regards
Ajwani

Lots of the features here on DaniWeb are custom written. However, the core of the entire site is the vBulletin framework.

Firstly i must say, you forum design is reall cool. I have seen many vbull sites and almost all look same. You have something different.

thanks for your reply. I have now started with PHP and new design. installed all mods and security updates. Once i get users comeing in i will buy vbull as at this stage investing is fine but if its usefull then i can go ahead. But its hardly any users turn around and become active it would be useless to invest.

Also phpbb ver 3 will be out and they say it has many more features.



Regards And Thanks for your reply

Ajwani

Hi,
I'm planning to have a website built that integrates bulletin board functionality. I'm not a developer, but a product designer and project manager.

Some questions:
1) which bulletin board software (phpBB, vBulletin, or...) is better out of the box? Better = works out of the box, less tweaking for basic bulletin board functionality, less time supporting and fixing bugs and low/no cost.

2) More importantly, I'd like the user management/profile functionality and database of the bulletin board to integrate with that of the rest of the site. Which BB software's user management/database is easier to integrate with? The objective is login once for access to everything on the site, including the bulletin boards.

Note: the development environment is likely to be PHP, MySQL (maybe some Ruby on Rails) and hosted somewhere like DreamHost

Thanks,
dannoll

Out of the box phpBB is the worst. Still it can be tweaked so nicely ...

As an update; I have a VB license now. for my webmaster community. It does have many features, but I almost cried when had to import my unique theme I used for 1 week only on phpBB to the new VB script. The template system is what I hate the most. I want to download each file and mod as in PhpBB, not use that dreaded admin panel ... Arghhhhhhhh.

Anyway .. the script is solid and works oK. I still have to find many hacks to have the features I used to have on my phpBB.

I am brand new to creating a forum but have recently just downloaded phpbb to my new hosting site. Before I become too invested in creating a custom look on phpbb I am concerned that Phpbb will not serve me well since it may be easily broken into.
Also I will potentially easily have several hundred members as the topic of bird conservation is a well known one.

Here is a current site where I know that several members (hopefully many) will also visit my site

Since users are already so familiar with this site created in vbulletin do you think it would be wise for me to use vbulletin as well? Are the log ins and basic membership priveledges and format quite different from Phpbb to v bulletin? I want my new members to be able to have great features and easy useage.

Still wondering about which to choose vbulletin vs phpbb.

Also the forum will simply be an integrated link from my website which I am in the beginnig states of constructing.....

Love to have some advice here folks!!!!!! Dani?

I am brand new here....

cheers

Don Kimball

phpbb is easy but every mods you have to install and too time comsuming ,VB is great for that every mods there you need,and easy to edit site payment options easy to install mods everything easy ,and best thing is security.

I really had my doubts at first, but I've really taken to vBulletin's plugin system.

Vb is good thats not the point but most people dont have the money to buy one.

Phpbb is good and for free.I was using a normal phpbb long time but now.Sorry i dont like it anymore.Its not up to date.And moding all day no thanks.Security updates you have to make on your own.
I've i have to choose again for a new forum i would take again phpbb Orion forum.

There a many good forum software out there but i guess i comes down to what you want to do whith your website.And how many cash you want to spend.